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A question I get often is how to get a non-fiction book published. People have a passion for a certain ministry and they want to reach other people. That’s great! The trouble is how the publishing industry sees things.

I had a sweet woman write and ask me about how to get her book published. I’ve changed her name and topic to keep her anonymous, but here is my answer:

Dear Chelsea,

That’s good news that your book is already written! That’s a great start. You’re right that publishers are looking for “established” writers. They are looking for people who are “known” in their industry for what they are writing about. I think your book proposal will get noticed if they can see you’re an “expert” in this field. It would probably take a few years to get established in that.

Things You Can Do

Start a blog and build and audience of readers. (The greater the number of followers, the better.)

Get a following on social media, who know you as an expert on step parenting. (The topic of Chelsea’s book.)

Writing magazine articles on the topic.

Speak on it often.

Have a fantastic website.

These days, the thing about publishing is that writing a good book isn’t enough. Writing a great book isn’t enough. Publishing houses are looking for authors with “platforms” who have a ready-made audience who wants a book from that author. Unfortunately publishers have only a few book titles they publish a year, and tons and tons of authors wanting their books published. For example, some publishers might get 5000 submissions a year and publish 50. You are competing against established speakers, writers and others in the industry.

This shouldn’t discourage you, because new writers are getting published all the time! If you build your platform and grow your audience, publishers will sit up and take notice!

When I first query an editor with an story idea, I break it down into a few simple parts. Here is the breakdown for my novel A Valley of Betrayal that was published February 2006.

As you can see, this is not an overview of the entire novel, but rather a summary that will hopefully hook the editor into wanted to know more. This type of summary can be used on a One-Sheet (popular at writer’s conferences to pique an editor’s interest). Or it can be used in your book proposal.

The bonus is that the same information can be reused when you begin to market your book. After all, the information that gained an editor’s interest will most like gain a reader’s interest also.

Historical Overview

Nazi tanks roll across the hillsides and German bombers roar overhead, dropping bombs on the helpless citizens below. Italian troops fight alongside them, and their opponents attempt to stand strong—Americans, British, Irishmen—in unison with other volunteers from dozens of countries. And their battleground? The beautiful Spanish countryside.

From July 1936-April 1939, well before America was involved in World War II, another battle was fought on the hillsides of Spain. On one side, the Spanish Republicans, joined by the Soviet Union and The International Brigade—men and women from all over the world who have volunteered to fight Fascism.

Opposing them, Franco and his Fascist military leaders, supported with troops, machinery, and weapons from Hitler and Mussolini. The Spanish Civil War, considered the “training ground” for the war to come, boasted of thousands of American volunteers who joined to fight on the Republican side, half of which never returned home.

Characters

The International Brigade was made up of volunteers from all over the world who came to Spain to fight Fascism. And even though they are from various nations, a small group of men and women will overcome the odds and soon find themselves friends for life.

Sophie is an artist who finds herself in Spain after traveling there to marry a photographer with the Associated Press. After her finace’s death, a member of The International Brigade rescues Sophie. With the brigade’s support, she uses her talents to become a combat artist in hopes that her drawings will alert the world concerning the fate of the Spanish people.

Philip, an American teacher (also part of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade) is the son of an pastor. Philip finds himself staying in Spain after attending the Worker’s Games in Barcelona.

Deion is an African-American from New York City who is part of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Deion can relate to the struggle of the Spanish people due to his own upbringing as a black man in the deep south.

Father Manuel is a young priest who has conflicting emotions on whether to side with the church or the people he’s given his heart to serve.

On the opposite side of the war, German soldier Ritter Anker is one of pilots flying with Hitler’s Condor Legion. When Ritter’s plane crashes, he takes on the role as a German Communist–and volunteer for Spain, finding help where he least expects it—from International Brigade members, including a beautiful American woman named Sophie.

That’s it! That is a basic summary of one of my novels. Feel free to share a novel summary you’re written!

Recently a friend of mine wrote to tell me she wrote a book. I love to hear that. So exciting!

My friend wanted to know how get the book published. Here’s my answer to her. Hopefully it’ll help you, too.

Congratulations on the book!

The first thing you need to know is that the majority of publishers don’t look at material unless it is presented to them through an agent. There might be some publishing houses that take unagented manuscripts, but I don’t know of any personally. You can find out about all the book publishers through this book, The Christian Writer’s Market.

The book will tell you if they accept manuscripts from un-agented writers. (It also lists agents if you’re interested in one.)

For agents, they are looking for people who wish to be career writers, and not just publish one book. So that is something to consider, too.

The article talks about choosing an agent, but the truth is they play a big part in the choosing too. My agent is Janet Grant with Books and Such. I know their agency gets 100s of requests every week for representation. Your idea needs to catch their eye. They are always looking for stellar writing and a book that meets a reader’s needs and delivers a compelling message in a fresh, new way.

Instead of sending your whole manuscript to an agent (or publisher) they first ask for a query letter. If they like your letter then they will ask for a full book proposal. If they like your book proposal they will ask for the full manuscript.

Finally, the best way to connect with writers, editors and agents is at a writers conference. My personal favorite is the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference.

It may sound like a LONG process, but like any new career it’ll take time to get to know the business. Follow other authors and editors on social media. Read books on writing. Every little step takes you one step closer!